Rural Belle & Three Heirs

Downstairs, people were coming and going, and Chloe never expected Grant to be so bold. He actually kissed her!

What's more, embarrassingly, she found herself utterly captivated by his kisses, unable to extricate herself.

Grant's kissing skills were exceptional, and as they shifted and deepened, both of them experienced a slight loss of control in their actions. Her eyes widened, and her breath hitched, leaving her mind utterly blank. The kiss was charged with an urgent fervor, as if Grant was conveying some deep-seated desire and longing.

His fingers gently but firmly cupped her chin, holding her head steady, as though he feared she might evade him. The overwhelming passion exploded in her chest, her heartbeat thundering like a drum. Initially, her hands instinctively pressed against his chest, an attempt to push him away. But that resistance melted almost immediately, and her fingers slowly traced their way up to his shoulders.

At that moment, someone called Chloe from the stairs, and she instantly came to her senses. She pushed Grant away and fled in a panic. Smirking, Grant touched his lips. It was a disappointment that a deep kiss like that ended so abruptly.

Escaping from Grant's room, Chloe nearly collided with Rena, who was anxiously searching for her on the stairs. Beads of sweat glistened on Rena's forehead as she exclaimed, "Chloe, where did you go? I was looking all over for you."

Chloe, still breathless from her encounter, tried to regain her composure. "I... I was just, um, talking with Grant," she stammered, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. "Miss Thorne said she wanted to see Grant, so I came to check when he would come downstairs."

Rena raised an eyebrow, noticing Chloe's disheveled state and the unmistakable flush of her cheeks. "Just checking, huh?"

Rena's words made Chloe feel guilty, and she quickly said, "Yes, I just came to check. What else do you think I could be doing?"

Rena didn't press the issue further and pulled Chloe downstairs. "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this. You should hurry downstairs; Michael said Jessica has arrived."

Hearing that Jessica had arrived, Chloe hurried downstairs. When she reached the door, Michael had already welcomed Jessica in.

When Jessica saw Chloe, she extended her arm and gave Chloe a deep hug, surprising everyone.

"Hello, Jessica," Chloe greeted Jessica.

Jessica warmly said, "Hello, little one. Long time no see. You've grown more and more..."

Jessica originally wanted to say "more and more beautiful," but when she saw the mole on Chloe's face, she swallowed the last word- Chloe couldn't be described as beautiful, only fresh and lively.

To prevent Jessica from saying the wrong thing, Chloe quickly gave Jessica a knowing look, and Jessica understood immediately.

Although Jessica was nearly fifty years old, she exuded a timeless charm, her beauty as striking as ever. Her warm, affectionate demeanor towards Chloe had not gone unnoticed, especially by Michael, who couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

The women sat together, engrossed in a variety of topics, talking about men, food, shopping, and more. Karlie and Moira were busy asking Jessica for tips on skincare, while Michael pulled Chloe aside with Karlie and started questioning her.

He asked, "Chloe, are you very familiar with Jessica?"

Chloe nodded. "Yes, very familiar. I met her when I was five. We're friends despite the age gap."

Hearing that Chloe and Jessica were friends made Michael's eyes almost pop out in envy. Jessica was a highly respected figure in the entertainment industry, a true powerhouse. How could she be friends with a young girl like Chloe?

He had to admit, he had underestimated Chloe before.

Michael's attitude softened. He said to Chloe, "Since you're friends with Jessica, could you put in a good word for me? Maybe she could give me some acting tips?" Chloe rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. "Why should I help you?"

Michael's frustration bubbled over. "Why? Because you live off me. I provide the roof over your head, the food you eat, everything you need. Liam might give you a hard time, but I don't. I always look out for you when we go out. All I'm asking is for you to help me get closer to Jessica. Is that too much? If you don't, you can forget about me taking you out anymore."

Michael was always long-winded, weaving elaborate narratives to leverage his supposed kindness and coax Chloe into agreeing with him.

Chloe, however, remained circumspect. After enduring his lengthy monologue, she feigned being moved by his words. "Mic, you do have a point," she said, sighing as if in resignation.

"Exactly." Michael's face lit up with joy.

"Alright then," Chloe continued, "considering how well you treat me and my friends, I'll agree."noveldrama

Her relenting made Michael exuberant. He reached out impulsively to grab Chloe's hand, but she swiftly pushed him away. "Hey, hey, hey, Michael, watch it. What's with grabbing my hand? Can't you keep some distance?"

Chloe's words made Michael realize his mistake, and he apologized with a smile.

At that moment, Chloe remembered she had told Rena that Michael would perform for everyone. She had to make it happen, right? Michael was a top star in the circle, with great acting skills and good looks. If he performed for the girls, this little gathering would be even more exciting.

With that in mind, Chloe set a trap for Michael. She put on a serious face and said to Michael, "Mic, I did introduce you to Jessica before, but she said she wants to see your skills."

"How do I show skills?" Michael was puzzled.

Chloe thought for a moment, resting her chin on her hand, and said, "Jessica mentioned that she loves impromptu performances. It would impress her greatly if you could act out a scene on the spot, right here, right now."

Hearing that he had to perform, Michael got interested. He was an actor, talented in many ways. Performing was a piece of cake for him, right?

Soon, Michael agreed.

Chloe, in turn, gathered everyone into the living room, including Rena. As they settled in, anticipation filled the air.

Chloe stood at the center, drawing everyone's attention. "Everyone," she began, her voice clear and inviting, "Michael has prepared a special performance to welcome you all."

Hearing that Chloe had convinced Michael to perform, Rena got excited. She grabbed Chloe's hand and asked, "What performance? What is my idol going to perform?"

Chloe's expression turned serious, and she smiled slightly, saying, "He's going to... cross-dressing!"